“**In 1820, just 10% of adults in the world had basic reading skills**. This changed rapidly over the 20th century. By 1950, more adults in the world could read than couldn’t. Today, we’re closing in on 90%. ([Location 627](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C3X6X695&location=627))” --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[optimism]], [[conditional-optimism]], [[progressing-slowly]], [[technology]], [[gratitude]], [[fertilisers]], [[ammonia]], [[statistics]], [[education]], [[learning-and-development]] **Source** -- [[260103133118 - B - Not the End of the World]]